Footwear and method of making the same



I. J. BYERS.

FOOTWEAR AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1917.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

I Wen/ions Joseph lliyevs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH J. BYERS, OF BROOKLIME, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE MENTS, TO RAJ'ET COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AS SIGN FOOTWEAR AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t nt d F 2 1922.

Application filed January 10, 1917. Serial No. 141,666.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I JOSEPH J. BYERS, a citizen of the United states, and a resident of Brookline, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, whose post-ofiice address is 26 Broad Street, Boston, Massachusetts, have invented Improvements in Footwear and Methods of Making the Same, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on. the drawings representing like parts.

I This invention relates broadly to improvements in laminated materials or materials made up of a plurality of separate sheets or layers secured together by cement or otherwise and constituting for example a wear receiving member, and more particularly to soles thus constructed of a plurality of layers and to footwear embodying such a wear receiving member or sole. The invention also relates to the method for making said material or sole made up of layers and to the method for making footwear embodying such material or sole.

My invention includes the application of my improved sole to any boot or shoe or other footwear, whether new orold, and by any suitable means, such as cementing, stitching, or both, for example.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrationof one specific product of my method and of a preferred mode of executing the latter, while its scopewill be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showing a conventional form of a shoe embodying one form of my invention, the sole being shown as stitched to the shoe;

Fig. 2 shows one form of my novel sole partly separated.

Referring to the drawing, I have therein shown a sole made up of a plurality of layers, herein two, simply as one illustrat ve example of my improved laminated materlal,

. and as an illustration of one possible application of my improved laminated material in a wear recelvlng member, I have further outer sole as ceed to describe my invention in its application to said sole and shoe, which latter 1s submitted merely as illustrative for any piece of footwear, it being understood that my lnvention is in no wise limited in its application to these specific illustrative examples.

My novel sole comprises a plurality of layers, and the illustrative example shows two such, 3 and 4, and may be applied to the welt and inner. sole of a boot or shoe, either with or without the interposition of a suit able filler, but herein, for simplicity and to illustrate the invention, I have shown the applied to an intermediate sole layer 2. In accordance with my invention, all or any of the layers composing the outer sole will preferably be treated to render the same water-repellent and highly wear resisting, or only that layer which will form the outer layer of my improved sole, may be so treated. secured together to form my novel sole, before they are affixed to the shoe; they may thus be secured together by any suitable means or in any suitable manner, but I preferably use for this purpose a, layer of cement 5, interposed between the sole layers, said cement being preferably of a composi to render it Waterproof or water-repellent, and when the several layers are thus treated and cemented together they constitute a homogeneous and wear receiving layer or outer sole, the layers being water-repellent and the sole, owing to the cement layer5, waterproof. I

Any suitable material may be taken as a basis for the layers of my outer sole 1, but preferably the same will be of some fibrous material, such as a textile fabric or leather. For example, an ordinary grade of chrome tanned leather, which is usually considered as unsuited for sole leather use, because of its porosity, lack of body and capacity to stretch when moist, may be taken and treated by my process, and the sole Or other wearresisting member made up of several united layers thereof may be so applied tothe shoe.

For example, the layers for my outer sole are chosen of the required thickness and died out or cut approximately to the desired shape, and are then preferably treated with a cement-like substance consisting of or in- Theseveral layers will be 7 cluding a cellulose derivative insolution and a quantity of non-oxidizing oil. Thls cement-like substance, comprising a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, will hereinafter be referred to as cement, This treatment is preferably carried out in such manner as toimpregnate the layer throughout with the cement.

The materials composing the cement and the proportions in which they are mixed may be varied within wide limits. A suitable cement, for example, may be prepared by dissolving some cellulose derivative, such as soluble nitro-cellulose, in a suitable solvent, whch may be, for example, acetone and alcohol'in equal parts; if, for illustration, soluble nitro-cellulose and acetone and alcohol are used, one pound of nitro-cellulose to one gallon of solvent may be employed with good results. To this is preferably added a substantial amount of some non-oxidizing or non-drying oil, preferably a vegetable oil. This, forexample, may be castor oil in the proportion of eight ounces to the pound of soluble nitro-cellulose.

The preferred method of impregnation is by immersing each layer of material to be treated in a bath composed of the cement. For illustration, a bath may be prepared ofsufiicient volume and proportion to the mass of the material to be treated to maintain the sole layer or layers, or the materials of which they are to be made, immersed for the required time thoroughly to impregnate without impairing the fluidity of the bath or efiectiveness of the treatment. The tank or other receptacle employed for the bath is closed to prevent any substantial evaporation of the solvent during the treatment of the material, and is also provided with suitably controlled heating means so as to maintain the bath at a suitable temperature.

The temperature of the bath is maintained at a point above the normal temperature of the air, but below that which would rapidly evaporate the solvent or impair the materialto be treated. In the treatment of leather with, a cement. constituted as described andcontaining the stated amount of castor. oil, the temperature should beless than 160 1*. Good results are had from temperature varying from 125 to 130 F. Porous materials, such as leather, usually hold absorbed more or less hygroscopic moisture. To facilitate the impregnation of the material with the cement, it is preferable to remove substantially all water and hygroscopic moisture from the material before its treatment. This may be accomplished in any desired manner, but' in the case of leath- I er a simple meth is to expose the material to a suitable drying temperature for a period long enough to drive out the moisture. The time and temperature required will differ for different materials and different masses the same slowly through a drying room or drying apparatus.

Preferably also the materlal should be handled and the treatment carried out in a room where the air has a low humidity, so that in passing from the drying operation to the immersion, the material may have no opportunity to absorb or collect any substantial or detrimental amount of moisture. No particular'temperature in the room where the operation is carried out is essential to the invention.

By expelling substantially all of the moisture in the leather Or other material used and immersing it while in a dry state, the permeation or impregnation of the material is facilitated and it is possible to impregnate the entire mass with the cement.

With the material dried as described, it

may be immediately plunged into the bath and there maintained immersed in the presence of heat for a long enough period thoroughly to impregnate it with the cement.

The period during which the immersion may be profitably continued will vary with the material and its thickness. For sole leather, for example, it may require from several minutes to several hours, according to the thickness. In the case of some thin, permeable material, a few minutes. will sometimes sufiice. The immersion is continued for an appreciable period sufiiciently prolonged to impregnate the material throughout. In the presence of heat and immersed in the solution, the material becomes impregnated with the cement.

The material treated by this method will be thoroughly impregnated throughout as distinguished from a mere surface coating or a coating which has a mere anchorage or impregnation of limited depth. Leather thus treated acquires the property of repellingwater, has great durability and density and a high degree of flexibility. All of these are qualities that are highly desirable and advantageous in a sole or boot or shoe.

Furthermore, the water-repellent properties and flexibility are long continuing, which I attribute to the fact that the oil so H which is sealed into the individual fibers or particles by the cement cannot be washed out by exposure to moisture. When ordinary leather becomes wet and is thereafter -dried by exposure to heat, it loses its softness and flexibility, becomes dry andhard and cracks very readily. This is largely due to the fact that the oil, soap or grease contained in the leather has been in part washed out by the wetting of the leather and in part driven out by the subsequent application of heat for drying the leather. Leather treated. by my present method and which has become damp can be readily dried by the application of heat without becoming hard or stiff and without losing its flexibilty and waterrepellent properties, which I also attribute to the fact that the oil is sealed into the individual fibers or particles by the cement and cannot be driven out by the heat used to dry the leather. That this is a great advan= tage in the case of soles or boots and shoes will be-apparent. I

It will thus be seen that leather treated by my present process. appears to have an oil-flexed property which is substantially permanent, while the oil contained in tllth cement throughout the body gives it a high degree of permanent flexibility and waterrepellent property.

After removing the material from the bath, it is dried. The effect of this is apparently -to unite the fibers or particles into-a homogeneous mass, leaving the oil sealed in the particles or fibers and protected by the cement, which as I believe, encases them and binds them together throughout.

The material need not necessarily be absolutely dry throughout but the drying should be carried far enough to set the cement at or near the surface.

The sole layers are now ready to be united to form my novel sole. Any number of sole layers may be united to form soles of any desired thickness, but I will describe by way of illustration one preferred mode of procedure where the sole is to consist of twolayers, it being apparent that where more than two layers are used to form a sole, the mode of procedure would be essentially the same.

The two sole layersv to be united are given a coating of the cement solution before they are superimposed and united to form the sole. This serves to fill the surface and to lay the nap or surface fibers. The coating thus produced is not merely anchored to the surface of the material, but appears to become dissolved into and united with the homogeneous cemented mass of the material and becomes a part thereof. Thecement used for this coating is preferably a cement which contains a cellulose derivative and may be the same as that used for impregnation. Preferably, however, it will be heavier or more concentrated, such for example as may be obtained by the use of half or even less of the solvent contained in the cement used for impregnation. When this coating has dried, the thus coated surfaceof one of the Layers to be united is given an other coating of this same denser or more concentrated cement, and while this fur ther cement coating is still tacky, the surface bearing it is applied upon the coated surface of the other layer and the two layers are then permanently secured together and compacted by the application of pressure 'and 'perferably heat. This last coating of jecting the superposed layers to direct pressure between presser members, such as fiat plates or presser rolls; but the direct pressure between flat plates in a stationary press, so constructed that the plates will exert a substantially uniform continued pressure, simultaneously on all parts of the material, or a considerable area thereof, for a more or less prolonged interval, or until the ce- -ment is set, Wlll in general be found more satisfactory. The uniting of the layers will be facilitated by the use of heat in conjunction with the pressure; the heat may be applied in any suitable manner, as for example by using heated presser plates. The pressure will also preferably be yieldingly adjustable.

The cement impregnated fibers of the layers will be condensed and compacted by the pressure used to unite the layers.

Preferably the layers to be united should be warm and dry before the coating of cement by which they are to be united, is applied, and the operation should preferably be carried out in a dry atmosphere. When the cement between the layers is set, the

pressure may be removed and the sole, or

other laminated material thus formed allowed thoroughly to dry and may then be kept or stored for any length of time without deterioration.

The cement by which the cement-impregnatedsole layers are united to form the sole appears to unite with the cement which permeates said layers and forms therewith a homogeneous body. It also has the same flexibility and water-repellent characteristics as the impregnated sole, so that the adhesive layer between the sole layers becomes one with said layers with no opportunity or tendency for separation thereat or there- ,from, and such layer bends and flexes freely in unison with the sole layers that it unites so that there appears to be an absence of wear-producing friction between said sole layers. Said adhesive layer between the sole layerfs also renders my improved sole waterproo The soles of leather or other fibrous material produced by this process are cement and oil-impregnated and characterized throughout by a fibrous, cellular structure, the size and number ofithe air cells depending in part on the extent to'which the condensing process has been carried out. That is to say,

the sole, while water-repellent, may be given some degree of porosity, thereby imparting to it an advantage over soles made of other non-porous, water-repellent or water-proof materials, such for example as rubber. Apparently the fibers become encased with the cement during the immersion, without necessarily wholly filling the interstices between the fibers or wholly expelling the air from within the same. The leather sole layer is characterized, after being treated by my process, by greater toughness, compactness and durability than the original leather before treatment, besides being substantially and permanently, water-repellent. While tougher and more durable, the sole is highly flexible because of the cement filled fiber. It will thus be seen that by my process durability, toughness, compactness and waterrepellent qualities may be imparted to cheap or inferior grades of leather so as to make them available for uses and purposes not heretofore possible, and as equal or .better substitutes for leather of more expensive grades. Thus, in the case of chrome tanned leather, the normally porous and loose structure of the leather becomes so charged with the cement that the leather has its fibrous structure compacted into a homogeneous, cement-bound, fibrous body. The cement adds to the initial strength of the union of the fibers, but because of the oil still leaves the product flexible. The cement also adds its strength to the strength of the fibers, producing a homogeneous, compacted body which can be worked in substantially the same manner as ordinary vegetable-tanned sole leather.

Leather used for uppers, whether chrome-.

tanned or otherwise, is of a closer, more compact, cellularstructure than sole leather,

and said closer, more compact, cellular struc-.

ture of leather used for uppers is substantially uniform throughout the .entirethickness of the leather, whereas sole leather for a considerable portion of its thickness is of an extremely loose and coarsely porous structure, the closer porous structure extending inwardly from its outer surfaces for a relatively short distance only. As a result, when the outer surface of ordinary soleleather is Worn through, the interior loose and more coarsely porous portion of the sole leather, which constitutes the greater portion of its thickness, wears'very quickly by use. Upper leather, chrome tanned, for example, is however unadapted for use as soles on account of its softness, lack of resiliency and liability to stretch. When treated by my process, however, the compactly porous, uniform structure of upper leather becomes so charged with the cement that it is con- 1,4oe,aos

verted into a compacted, homogeneous, cement-bound fibrous body, which while flexible, owing to the oil confined by the cement within its pores, has lost its objectionable softnessand liability to stretch and has gained the necessary resiliency and other qualities to enable it to be used as sole leather. 7

A sole made up of two or more layers of upper leather treated by my process and cemented together, in the manner above described, will be'by far more wear-resisting than a sole of the same thickness made of ordinary sole leather, owing to the uniform, more compact cellular structure of the upper leather throughout as compared to the sole leather having the loose cellular structure extending throughout the greater portion of its thickness.

It will thus be seen that upper leather, chrome-tanned for example, treated by my process is not only adapted for use as soles but furnishes a better, more wear-resisting sole than one made of ordinary sole leather.

What has been said in respect to upper leather applies equally to any leather that has been tanned by a process used in tanning upper leather. y

The sole finished as described is ready to be applied to the shoe. This may be done by stitching, nailing or in any other suitable manner, or it may be cemented to the shoe, and in the latter case the cement attachment may be reinforced by stitching, nailin or any other usual means. When the so e is secured to the shoe by stitching, this through the welt, or the interior sole layer 2 where, as in the illustrative example shown, the outer sole is applied directly to such an interior sole. This leather shows much less liability to split or tear in sewing than ordinary leather.

In this connection it should be noted that my improved sole can be stitched to the shoe without any previous preparation, that is to say, it can be stitched'or otherwise secured to the shoe. while dry without being previously moistened or tempered as is necessairy in the case of leathersoles heretofore use y When my improved sole is cemented to the shoe, and is applied directly to an interior sole as in the illustrative case shown in the drawing, Fig. 2, the outer face of said interior sole will preferably beroughened up, by any suitable device, such as a wire brush, for example, so as to open up the fibers and permit the penetration of the cementing solution used to a suflicient depth The bottom of the shoe having been roughened as described, the same is covered with a cement solution, and a similar solution is applied to the upper face of the cement impregnated layer-sole. Preferably the shoe. and sole should be warm and dry before application of, the cement, and the operation should preferably be carried out 1n a dry atmosphere. The cement employed with the cement Wlth no opportunity or tendency: to separate for this purpose is preferably a cement which contains a cellulose derivative and may be of the same nature as the cement used for impregnating the outer sole 1. Preferably, however, it will be heavier or more concentrated than that cement, such, for example, as is obtained by the --use of half or less of the solvent contained in the cement used for impregnation. When the cement coating thus applied to the bottom of the shoe and to the upper face of the layersole is dry, another coating of cement, preferably of the same more concentrated kind, is applied to either the surface of the sole to be attached or to the bottom of the shoe, or both, and while-this coat of cement is still fluid, the sole is applied to the shoe and subjected to a suitable even pressure throughout, this pressure being preferably maintained until the cement is set. The application of heat in conjunction with pressurewill conduce to the evaporation of the solvent and the setting of the cement. When the cement is set' the pressure may be removed and the sole allowed thoroughly to dry, after which it may be trimmed down and finished in the usual manner.

' y improved sole will burnish to the same high degree. as any other sole and will take quite as perfect a finish upon its surface or its edge when treated by any usual burnishing or finishing process. The edges of my improved sole may be set with the same degree of perfection as those of my other sole,

and will retain such finish.

As in the case of the cement which unites the sole. layers, so the cement by which my improved sole is secured to the shoe appears to unite with the cement which permeates the sole layers and to form therewith a homogeneous body. It also has the same flexibility and water-repellent characteristics as the impregnated sole layers, so that the adhesive layer uniting the shoe and the sole becomes one with the sole layers and with the layer of cement uniting the latter as well as permeating said sole layers,

therefrom, the adhesive layer uniting the sole to the shoe, bending and flexing freely in unison with the layers forming the sole and the adhesive layer uniting said sole layers, asalso with the shoe surface to which the sole is affixed.

As already stated, a sole treated by my process will not stretch; it will thus retain ers, or either of them, being either treated by my process or untreated, as may be desired and most advantageous for the purpose in hand,

Owing to the intimate homogeneous connection of the parts, there appears to be an entire absence of relative movement between the sole layers and the latter and the shoe,

thus avoiding the usual wear and production of squeaks due to this cause in ordina footwear. Furthermore, leather treated by my 'process resists the rotting action, which in ordinary leather is due in part to the pressure of ammonia in the perspiration from the foot.

It will be apparent that the material from which the sole layers are to be formed could be impregnated in the piece and the sole layers thereafter died out or cut roughly therefrom, andthen united and secured to the shoe as described, instead of cutting out the sole layers before impregnating them.

It has been found that in some cases it is preferable to subject the leather to a dc- -or grease, before treating the leather by my process Any usual or well-known degreasing process may be employedfor this purpose, such for example as immersing the leather for the necessary length of time in a bath of naptha, ben'zine or other suitable agent. In the case of textile fabrics the best results are obtained with unsized materials.

While I have herein described one illustrative example of my improved product and the several steps by which'one form my process may be carried out, it is to be understood that my invention is not l1m1ted to the exact details specified, or any of them, butthat these may be varied within wide limits without exceeding the true scope of my invention which is definitely set forth by the claims.

Having described 'my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: t

1. As a new article of manufacture, a boot or shoe or other article of footwear having an outer wear-resisting member comprising a plurality of layers impregnated throughout with a cement including a ;cellulose dethe footwear article by adhesive layer of cement and containing similar materials, said adhesive layer and the cement permeating the sole layers being united into a homo eneous, water-repellent, flexible body.

3. s a newarticle of manufacture, a boot or shoe or other article of footwear having an outer wear-resisting member secured to the under side of the footwear article and comprising a plurality of layers of chrometanned leather impregnated throughout with a cement including a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil and cemented together by a cement containing similar materials.

4. The method of providing a boot or shoe or other footwear with a wear-resisting sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by drying the layers that are to constitute the sole; immersing said layers while still substantially dry in a heated bath comprising in solution cement containing a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil; maintaining-such immersion until said layers are impregnated throughout with said cement; removing said layers from the bath; allowing them to dry; applyingto those surfaces of said layers by which the latter are to be united to form the sole, a-coating of cementalso containing a non-oxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative, but more concentrated than that used for impregnation; allowing said coatings to dry; applying another coat ing of said more concentrated cementto one of those surfaces of two sole layers by which said layers are to be united; applying the surfaces by which the sole layers are to be united upon each other while said coating of cement is still tacky; compacting said sole layers and permanently cementing them together to form a layer-sole by the application of pressure; roughing up the bottom surface of the footwear article; coating the bottom surface of the said article and an outer surface of the layer-sole with a layer of said more concentrated cement; allowing said coatings of cement to dry; applying another coating of said moreconcentrated cement to one'of said two ce ment-coated surfaces; applying one of said surfaces upon the other while the cement is still tacky; and permanently cementing the layer-sole to the footwear article by the application of pressure.

5. The method of providing a shoe with a wear-resisting sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which 18 characterized by drying said 'sole layers, thoroughly impregnating said sole layers with a, cement containing a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, by immersing said sole layers in a heated bath containing said cement in solution; removing said sole layers from the bath and allowing them to dry; applying to the surfaces of said sole layers by which the latter are to be unlted,

a coating of cement also containing a nonoxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative, but more concentrated than that used for impregnating said layers; allowing said coatings to dry; interposing a layer of said more concentrated cement between the sole layers superposing said sole layers while said interposed cement is still tacky; compacting said sole layers and permanently cementing them together to form a layer-sole by the application of pressure; coating the bottom surface of the shoe and an outer surface of said layer-sole with a layer of said more concentrated cement; allowing said coatings of cement to dry; interposing a layer of said more concentrated cement between said cement-coated outer surface of the layer-sole and the bottom surface of the shoe; applyingkone of said surfaces upon the other, while t e cement is still tacky; and

shoe by the application of pressure.

' 6. The method of providing a boot or shoe,

:or other footwear article, with a wear-resisting sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by drying said sole layers; thoroughly impregnating them with a cement containing a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, by immersing said sole layers in a heated bath containing said cement in solutionp iremoving said sole layers from said bath and allowing them to dry; applying to the surfaces of said sole layers, by which the latter are to be united, a coating of cement also containing a non-oxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative; allowing said coatings to dry; interposing a layer of adhesive, cement between the sole layers; superposing said sole layers; compacting said sole layers and permanently cementing them together to form a layer-sole by the application of pressure and heat; coating the bottom surface of a shoe and an outer surface of said layersole with a layer of cement also containing a permanently ceiao 7. The method of providing a boot or shoe, or other footwear article with a sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by drying a sole layer; thoroughly impregnating said sole layer with cement containing a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, by immersing said sole layerin a heated bath of said cement in solution; removing said sole layer from said bath and allowing it to dry; coating a surface of said cement impregnated sole layer and a'surface, of another sole layer with a coating of cement also containing a non-oxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative; allowing said coatings of cement to dry; interposing a layer of adhesive cement between said cementcoated surfaces of said solelayers; superposing said sole layers; compacting said sole layers and permanently cementing them together to form a layer-sole by the application of pressure and heat; coating the bottomv surface of a shoe and a surface of said layer-sole'with cement also containing a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, and allowing said coatings of cement to dry; interposing a layer of adhesive cement between saidcement-coated outer surface of the layer-sole 'and the bottom surface of vthe shoe; applying one of said surfaces upon the other; and perma nently cementing the layer-sole to the footwear article by the application of pressure and heat.

8. The method of providing a boot or shoe or other footwear article with a sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by drying a sole layer; thoroughly impregnating said sole layer with cement containing a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, by immersing said sole layer in a heated bath of said cement in solution; removing said sole layer from said bath and allowing it to dry; coating a surface of said cement-impregnated sole layer and a surface of another sole layer with cement also containing a nonoxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative; allowing said coatings of cement to dry; interposing a layer of adhesive cement between said cementmoated surfaces of said sole layers; superimposing said solefllayers; compacting and permanently cementing said sole layers together to form a layer-sole by the application of pre sure; coating a surface of said layer-sole with cement also con taining a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil; allowing said coating to dry; and

permanently securing the layer-sole to the footwear article.

9. The method of providing a boot ,or shoe or other footwear article with a wear-resisting sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by drying said sole layers; thoroughly impregnating them with a cement containing a cel lulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, by immersing said sole layers in a heated bath containing said cement in solution; removing said sole layers from said bath and allowing them to dry; coating the surfaces of said sole layers by which the latter are to be united, with a cement also containing a nonoxidizing oil and a'cellulose derivative; allowing said coatings to dry; interposing a layer of adhesive cement between the sole layers and superposing said sole layers; compacting andpermanently cementing said sole layers together to form ailayer-sole, by the application of pressure; and permanently securing said layer-sole to the footwear article.

10. The method of providing a boot or shoe or other footwear article with a wear- M resisting sole comprising a plurality of layersof fibrous material, which is characterized by thoroughly impregnating fibrous material in the form of sheet or web with a cement containing a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, by immersing said material in a heated bath containing said cement in solution; removing said material from said bath and allowing it to dry; cutting or dieing out sole layers from said material; coating the surfaces of said sole layers, by which the latter are to be united, with cement also containing a non-oxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative; allowing said coatings to dry; interposing a layerof 'adhesive cement between the sole layers and superposing said sole layers; compacting said sole layers and permanently cementing them together to form a layer-sole; and permanently securing said layer sole to the footwear article.

11. The method of providing a boot or shoe or other footwear article with a wearresisting sole comprising aplurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by thoroughly impregnating fibrous; sheet or web material with cement containing a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, by immersing said material in a heated bath of said cement in solution; removing said material from said bath and allowing it to dry; cutting or dieing out a sole layer from said material; coating a surface of said sole layer and a surface of another solelayer with cement also containing a non-oxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative; allowing said coating of cement to dry;

interposing a layer of adhesive cement between said cement-coated surfaces of said sole layers; superposing said sole layers;.

compacting said sole layers and permanently cementing them together to form a layersole; and permanently securing said layerleather, impregnated throughout with cement containing a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, said leather consisting of initially united fibres substantially free from moisture and charged with said cement and the cellulose derivative and non-oxidizing oil therein, and encased with the same, the fibrous structure of said leather being compacted into a homogeneous, cementbound, fibrous body, and the layers of said sole bein cementedtogether by cement con tainin similar materials.

13. he method of making a sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by thoroughly impregnating the sole layers with cement containing a cellulose derivative and a nonoxidizing oil. by immersing the sole layers in a' heated bath comprising a solution of said cement; removing the sole layers from said bath; allowing them to dry; coating" those surfaces of said sole layers by which the latter are to be united, with cement also containing a non-oxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative but more concentrated than that used for impregnation; allowing said coatings to dry; interposing a layer of said more concentrated cement between the eement-coated surfaces of the sole layers; and compacting said sole layers and permanently cementing them together to form the sole by the application of pressure and heat.

14. The method of making a sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by thoroughly impregnating said material with cement containing a cellulose derivative and non-oxidizing oil, by immersing said material in a heated bath comprising a solution of said cement; removing the material from the bath and allowing it to dry; cutting or dieing out from said material the layers to form the sole; coating those surfaces of said layers by which the latter are to be united with Qcement also containing anon-oxidizing oil and a cellulose'derivative, but more concentrated than that used for impregnating the material; allowing said coatings to dry; interposing a layer of said more concentrated cement between the cement-coated surfaces of the sole layers; and compacting said sole layers and permanently cementing them together to form the sole by the application of pressure and heat.

15. The method of making a sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by thoroughly impregnating said layers with cement containmg a cellulose derivative. anda non-oxidizmg 011 so as to render said layers water-repellent, by immersing said layers in a heated bath containing said cementin solution;-' removing the sole layers from said bath and allowing them to dry; coating those surfaces of said layers by which the latter are to be united with cement also containing a nonoxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative; allowing said coatings to dry; interposing a layer of adhesive waterproof cement between said cement-coated surfaces of the sole layers; and compact-ing said sole layers and cementing them together to form the sole by the application of=pressure.

16. A method of making a sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by drying said sole layers; thoroughly impregnating them with cement containing a cellulose derivative and non-oxidizing oil by immersing them in a heated'bath containing said cement in solution; removing the sole layers'from said 8 bath; allowing them to dry; coating those surfaces of said sole layers by which the latter are to be united, with cement also containing a non-oxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative; allowing said coatings to dry; interposing a layer of adhesive cement also containing a cellulose derivative and a nonoxidizing oil between said cement-coated surfaces of the sole layers; and compacting said sole layers and permanently cementing them together to form the sole by the application of pressure.

17, The method of providing a boot or a shoe or other footwear article with a wearreceiving sole comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material, which is characterized by drying said sole layers; thoroughly impregnating them with a cement containing a cellulose derivative and a non-oxidizing oil, by immersing said sole layers in a 1 heated bathcontaining said cement in solution; removing said sole layers from said bath and allowing them to dry, coating the surfaces of said sole layers by which the lat: ter are to be united, with cement containing 5 a non-oxidizing oil and a cellulose derivative; allowing said coatings to dry; interposing a layer of adhesive cement between the sole layers and superposing said sole layers; compacting and permanently cementing said 1 sole layers together to Tform a layer-sole by the application of pressure; and permanently stitching said layer-sole to the footwear article. t

In testimony name to this specification.

VJOSEPHU. BYERS. 

